The Switzerland national football team opens its UEFA Nations League campaign against North Macedonia in Skopje on Saturday, entering the fixture without suspended forward Breel Embolo and facing a disrupted pitch. Coach Murat Yakin addressed the media on Friday to outline roster adjustments and criticize pitch conditions that fall short of tournament regulations.
Rusakan pitch conditions in Skopje draw criticism from Murat Yakin
National team coach Murat Yakin raised concerns over the playing surface at the Toše Proeski National Arena during Friday’s pre-match press conference, displaying grass blades he measured at seven centimeters. UEFA regulations cap pitch length at three centimeters. Yakin told reporters that the team was glad to have completed its final training session in Belek, Turkey, rather than on the local turf, stating that football cannot be played properly under such conditions. The stadium turf’s height could not be independently verified on site, according to reporting by 20min.ch.
Midfielder Ardon Jashari adopted a more pragmatic stance regarding the playing surface. Jashari noted that the team must prepare to encounter the same field conditions on matchday regardless of whether groundskeepers trim the grass before kickoff.
Breel Embolo misses opening fixtures amid disciplinary and eligibility fallout
Switzerland will play its first match since the 2022 FIFA World Cup quarter-final against Argentina without forward Breel Embolo. The Swiss Football Association (SFV) decided that Embolo will not join the squad for the current international window following revelations regarding falsified COVID-19 certificates, a legal case that has remained active for over two years. Yakin clarified that the roster exclusion was not his decision, emphasizing a desire to focus entirely on upcoming matches while stating he still counts on Embolo for future call-ups.
SFV media spokesperson Adrian Arnold explained that the association shared the public’s information timeline while legal proceedings were ongoing, noting that management was surprised when Embolo informed them of developments earlier in the week. Embolo would have missed the Skopje fixture anyway due to a suspension carrying over from a red card received against Argentina.
Squad turnover creates openings for debutants and tactical shifts
In addition to Embolo’s absence, Yakin must manage several other squad vacancies. Midfielder Denis Zakaria and winger Ruben Vargas are sidelined with injuries, while Silvan Widmer, Christian Fassnacht, and Noah Okafor have temporarily stepped away from national team duty. These departures open paths for squad newcomers in attack and defense.
Sion forward Winsley Boteli has earned his first senior team call-up after registering 13 goals and 5 assists across 15 competitive matches, giving him strong claims over Werder Bremen substitute Cedric Itten. On the right side of the defense, uncapped options Zachary Athekame and Sascha Britschgi are competing for minutes in the absence of Zakaria and the injured Luca Jaquez. Ricardo Rodriguez, the primary left-back, enters the fixture having logged only 17 competitive minutes this season.
Ardon Jashari steps into the playmaker role
Ardon Jashari is slated to anchor the central midfield, stepping into the role previously occupied by Granit Xhaka, who is also absent due to issues involving COVID-19 documentation. Yakin expressed confidence in Jashari’s abilities, noting the midfielder’s strong training performances during the World Cup. For Jashari, the fixture carries personal significance as his parents were born in North Macedonia and extended family members reside in the region.
What remains unknown ahead of kickoff
Questions persist regarding whether stadium groundskeepers will shorten the pitch to comply with UEFA guidelines before Saturday’s opening whistle, and how officials will handle the roster adjustments necessitated by late squad changes.
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